Ahead of World Environment Day [Thursday 5 June], pupils at Bowes Primary School are seeing the dangers of climate change brought vividly to life through a unique virtual reality (VR) experience. The pupils are among the first in the country to try the Future Forests Toolkit, a new education resource that highlights the impact of human activity on the environment.
The toolkit is the result of a partnership between Avantis Education, creator of ClassVR, the world’s first virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) solution designed exclusively for education and the Rainforest Foundation UK. While the most immersive experience comes through ClassVR headsets, the resource is available to all schools via any internet enabled device.
Joel Hockman, Class teacher, Bowes Primary School, said: “The rainforest experience really captured the children’s imagination. They learnt about different plants and animals, some of which they may never have the opportunity to come across. All learners were not only fully engaged when using VR, but were also able to talk about their experience in detail. An opportunity of a lifetime that they may not have otherwise experienced!”
Gulev Karayel, Director of IT, Connect Education Trust, said: “Introducing ClassVR has been a turning point in our pedagogical practice. One child excitedly shared, ‘I saw different animals I’ve never seen before!’—a simple but powerful reminder of how these experiences open new worlds and deepen understanding. These moments stick with them, often recalled and built upon weeks later—making learning both memorable and meaningful.”
With the United Nations’ World Environment Day taking place this week, it’s the perfect time for pupils to learn about issues impacting our world, like climate change and deforestation.
Powered by ClassVR, the Future Forests experience takes pupils on a journey that shows them the beauty of our earth, the dangers it’s facing, and the consequences of doing nothing. The experience highlights real environmental challenges and shows the impact of human activity on the Amazon rainforest across several countries in South America.
Pupils are taken on a trip through time to experience alternate futures of the same rainforest. They are shown the stark realities of deforestation and habitat destruction as well as hopes for sustainability and restoration.
The Toolkit has been created to put pupils at the forefront of rainforest destruction. It challenges them to think about the impact of human activity on rainforest ecosystems and the longer-term effects on global climate, and how natural habitats can be restored and sustained in future.
Key Stage 2 pupils at Bowes Primary praised the Future Forests toolkit for being realistic and interactive, describing how it felt like they had really visited the rainforest.
One pupil, Ellie, said: “It’s an amazing experience. The rainforest isn’t near here, so you get to see it.”
Another, Alev, said: “I can’t wait to go back to the rainforest to find out more.”
The Future Forests Toolkit was launched at global education technology show Bett 2025 in London earlier this year. It demonstrates how VR can be a powerful tool for fostering emotional engagement and understanding of climate change among pupils.
It comes after a recent report from the Department for Education raised concerns over levels of climate literacy among school leavers.
Gillian Rhodes, Chief Marketing Officer of Avantis Education, said: “With World Environment Day taking place this week, it’s a good time to reflect on the role education can play in raising awareness of environmental issues.
“Climate change is one of the pressing issues of our time, but the recent DfE report showed that only a third (34%) of students accurately defined climate change mitigation. By partnering with Rainforest Foundation UK to develop the Future Forests toolkit, we’re helping schools to deliver more impactful lessons on how to mitigate climate change.
“While VR is not a panacea for climate action, it allows students to experience the impacts of climate change in an immersive way, helping them to develop a deeper understanding and sense of urgency to act.
Schools across London can access the Future Forest Toolkit for free here: www.ClassVR.com/FutureForest
